EaglePicher Helps Power Mars Mission

Spirit and Opportunity, NASA’s Mars exploration Rovers, used EaglePicher Technologies thermal batteries to successfully assist in the critical entry, descent, and landing sequences on Mars.

Each Rover had two thermal batteries manufactured at EPT’s Joplin, Missouri facility, located on the back shell to provide high-current bursts for firing several pyros (firing mechanisms). These pyros enabled parachute deployment, heat shield release, transfer impulse reaction system (TIRS), and rocket assisted descent (RAD) rocket firing.

The batteries made the long trip to Mars in an inactive state. Upon entering the Mars atmosphere, a high-current pulse activated the batteries by generating a high temperature that melted electrolyte pellets and thus provided ionic contact between electrodes within the battery.

The thermal batteries are designed to provide extremely high power over a short period of time. EaglePicher made similar batteries for NASA’s earlier missions, Mars Pathfinder and Mars Odyssey.

In other news, the Defense and Space Power Division of EaglePicher Technologies LLC has received ISO 9001:2000 certification. Certificate of Registration No. 98-1124b is applicable to the design and manufacturing of batteries for commercial, military and space applications. Sites certified include ordnance systems, defense systems, product development, energetic devices, commercial power solutions, and space power business units located in Joplin.